Sri Lanka's participates in Gulfood 2009

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in UAE organized Sri Lanka's participation at the 14th Gulfood, Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire with eight Sri Lankan companies at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre recently.

The eight companies in the Sri Lanka Pavilion organized by the EDB included Ceylon Fresh Teas (Pvt) Ltd, Wembly Commodities (Pvt) Ltd, International Commodity Traders (Pvt) Ltd, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, Adamjee Lukmanjee and Sons Ltd, Nestle Lanka PLC, Bio Extracts (Pvt) Ltd and ADAMEXPO.

The EDB also coordinated participation of Ceylon Cold Stores Ltd, one of the major beverage companies in Sri Lanka at the Gulfood 2009 at their request.

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised 20 members including the EDB official.

The products promoted through the EDB pavilion included tea, desiccated coconut, coconut milk powder, coconut cream, dried lime, fresh fruit and vegetables, spices, cashew nuts, biscuits, cakes, chocolates, fruit juices, food ingredients, canned food and herbal products.

The EDB organized an information stall at the Sri Lanka pavilion where the information related to other exportable products of Sri Lanka which were not on display and contact details of Sri Lankan exporters were provided to interested parties.

Gulfood, the Middle East's largest food exhibition and one of the world's leading exhibitions covering food, drink food service and hospitality industry recorded an outstanding 16 percent increase in visitor attendance while most importantly maintaining exceptional buyer quality.

Successfully running for more than a decade, Gulfood has become a landmark event for the region's food and hospitality industries attracting visitors from a variety of sectors including food and beverage, hotel, retail, catering, equipment and technology.

The trade only event is open to business and trade visitors from within the industry only.

The public and those under 21 were not permitted entry into the exhibition which proved the commitment of the organizers to get only the trade visitors to the exhibition.

Apart from the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre venue, Gulfood 2009 was held for the first time at the Airport Expo Dubai due to the huge demand for space from other participating countries.

Ingredients Middle East, one of the region's premier international ingredients exhibition was also co-located with Gulfood 2009 to form one of the world's first exhibitions to bring together the industrial sector with food manufacturers and processors.

The size and number of country pavilions at this year's exhibition has also exceeded expectations. More than 3,300 companies, from 76 countries participated in the four-day exhibition utilizing Gulfood as a platform to launch new products and expand operations in the GCC.

Many international organisations also used the event to explore business ventures and foster better trade relations with emerging markets.